Day 6 of Daily Footprint Project. The day to get my roots done.
This is an image of ‘Roots’, a piece I did while I was an artist a few years ago (silver embroidered photo on fabric).
I am rather frugal in the personal care department. Over the years, I have pared down to the bare essentials. Lubriderm cream for body and face, Clinique foundation, Clinique blush, Chapstick for my lips, Neutrogena cleanser, Johnson baby wash, Dove shampoo and conditioner, O.P.I nail strengthener, Tom’s toothpaste, Tom’s deodorant. The one vanity I won’t give up is getting my hair dyed once a month. My hair turned grey in my twenties, and I just can’t fancy myself in any other color than my original brown. For all my talks about avoiding chemicals, I have been willing to venture into unknown toxic land, for the sake of restoring my mane to its original brown splendor, for years.
This time is different. In the name of the Daily Footprint experiment, I decided to investigate further. After a bit of googling, I came across the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database. Boy, was I in for a surprise! The hair dye turned out to be safe. These other products I have been using, however, that’s another story. I am still mad from what I found out (all products rated on 0-10 hazard scale, with scores of 7 and above considered as high risk): Lubriderm Daily Moisture with SPF 15 (7), Johnson Baby wash (4), Tom’s toothpaste (2), Neutrogena Cleanser (6), O.P.I nail strengthener (7), Tom’s Deodorant (2), Dove Shampoo and conditioner (5), Cherry Chaptstick (8), Clinique Super Balanced Makeup (NA), Clinique Blush (NA)
Lubriderm promotes itself as ‘developed by dermatologists for healthier skin’. Based on that claim, and a recommendation from a girlfriend who had been told by her doctor that Lubriderm was the best, I have been using Lubriderm as my all purpose body and face cream, for years. Now, I am finding out that seemingly harmless stuff is way up there in terms of environmental hazard for my health. Detailed report from the Skin Deep database indicates that ingredients in this product are linked to: cancer, developmental/reproductive toxicity, allergies/immunotoxicity, neurotoxicity, persistence and bioaccumulation, organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), enhanced skin absorption, contamination concerns, biochemical or cellular level changes.
I feel deceived.
And I came up with something else, in the course of my investigation. Back to the hair dye, I looked up the MSDS sheet. It says:
‘Environmental Precautions: 1) do not flush into surface water or sanitary sewer system, 2) avoid subsoil penetration ‘.
As far as I can tell, all that rinse off water with the hair dye that was used to color my hair yesterday: down the drain.
I’d like to end by asking you to look up the Action Center page on the Environmental Working Group website. There are a lot you can do by just writing to you congressman and senator. Enviroblog is also a great resource.
Daily Footprint Project Daily Log Day #6 Water personal: flush toilet 1 wash face 2 brush teeth 2 wash hands 2 two showers at the gym mom: communal: rinse dishes Electricity/gas personal: electric toothbrush 2 microwave tea 2’ microwave oatmeal 4’ laptop on all day hair dryer at hair salon mom: cook cream of wheat on stove communal: lights Food personal: oatmeal with organic milk tea organic orange organic rasberries mom: takeout sushi small odwalla juice three pastries from Whole Foods organic oranges cheese omelet with organic eggs communal: Waste personal: toilet paper mom: veggies/fruit peels communal: three newspaper wrappers plastics (we take to recycling center now) Transportation personal: drive to hair salon 4 miles mom: communal: drive to gym 6 miles drive to dinner out 5 miles Non food shopping personal: hair dye mom: communal:
Studies show toxic carcinogens are found
in urine, blood cells, and organs.
They may cause cancer.
Thanks for the info, Karen.
Crazy stuff! Maybe just stick with plain old cheapo moisturising cream. One of those ones that’s just aloe vera and lanolin.
My first girlfriend just used olive oil – but she was Greek… 🙂
love the pic, very arty — happen to be fond of silver threads in my hair.
Now I know what the top of your head looks like !!
I have a long history with cosmetics personal care sensitivities not to mention out and out poisoning. I am very happy to recommend alternatives that I have tried and really love anytime. Johnsons has formaldyhde in it —yikes!!
In the hair care department I get perms and color ( when I can afford the color , and typically that is very chemically). The perm softens how course my hair became during menopause. I found a variety of alternative lines that were rather low performing. I switched to the aveda line and really like it. Personally can’t use their shampoo’s ( makes me itchy ) but the perms are really great as is the color.
Mother Earth aka Karen Hanrahan
http://www.bestwellnessconsultant.com
A word on skin deep, many product lines pay to get listed and word to the wise other companies actually pay to get unlisted.
Thats’ part of next steps. Getting rid of all that nasty stuff on the bathroom sink counter, and replace with harmless alternatives. The Skin Deep Database has all the data that’s needed.
Karen,
What do you recommend as a reliable product evaluator database?
Mother Earth, I beg to differ!
EWG absolutely does not accept contributions from companies to rate or de-list products in Skin Deep. Where did you hear that we accept contributions like that? I’d like to get to the source and correct the rumor.
Marguerite, thanks for the great review of EWG’s work! I had a similar experience with my personal care products — the ones I thought would be worst were just the tip of the iceberg. It’s pretty unreal.
Amanda,
Thanks for the info. I love this discussion you are starting with Karen (Mother Earth).
Hi ladies —
This is bit challenging to do in a comment environment
Let’s start with EWG
I recommend and utilize EWG all the time, however I preface my recommendation with this additional comment:
The Environmental Working Group is a non-profit, advocacy organization. Not a government agency.
Key words: non-profit – advocacy
It’s lists are absolutely fabulous. It’s a place to start when searching for products in the alternative market, however it’s sourcing is lacking – sometimes I can tell where they get their information sometimes I can’t
Example: I am an advocate of non flouride toothpaste. EWG does a great job at higlighting the dangers of flouride yet it says nonflouride toothpastes are hard to find in the US. That simply isn’t true. I currently know of 2 sources
I feel the organization has it’s own zeal.
Years ago a wonderful book about being green was going to be discussed at our local library – gosh the title escapes me at the moment – I was horrified when I joined in to find the guest speaker had never even cracked the book. She talked about herself, her hokey ideals about the environment but mostly she talked about the ploy of soy. Her rants were overbearing. Since I was a proponant of the joy of soy I thought why on earth was this woman saying these things. Turns out she was a keeper of exotic birds who’s feed was tainted with pesticide ridden soy. I felt horrible for those birds. I felt mislead by her platform and I felt she was a woman who would never see any advantage to soy what so ever.
She had her own mission
My point ? There are 2 sides to almost every concern.
I was not trying to discount EWG as a resource. Just merely pointing out that it’s not all that it suggests. I really also can’t say who says/ she says/ they said so that Amanda can set them straight – goodness – what’s the point in that?
Amanda I am delighted to meet you and that you are beginning a wonderful journey into the alternative world of personal care product. The win/win is that we have choices.
Pick the ingredients you don’t want to be a part of. Formaldhydes were a big one for me. My list is rather long. Then find the companies that manufacture formaldyhde free product. I was trying to find these things in the late 70’s believe me, it wasn’t easy.
I worked for Whole Foods for 3 years in the early 90’s. I simply adore the company. Are they the ultimate ?? No they are not. We are. We still have to be educated consumers. Whole Foods does many things I also don’t agree with. One store I worked at housed coke-a-cola, cheerios and velveeta – hmmm is that organic? Is that alternative or was that the demographic of the clientelle in that neighborhood. Brilliant on whole foods part, they knew their market. It got those kinds of people into their store.
Gosh – I could probably write a book here
Did this help the discussion? I hope I didn’t get too long winded
Mother Earth aka Karen Hanrahan
http://www.bestwellnessconsultant.com
Thanks Karen, for your contribution. Nothing like a healthy discussion to enrich the quality of the information that’s being shared.
Thanks Amanda for jumping in.
Thanks for your comments, Karen. It’s always nice to know where Skin Deep’s users are coming from, and (although I’m not sure what you’re suggesting EWG’s ulterior motive may be) I’m all for critical thinking when considering a source.
EWG is certainly an advocacy organization, but much (or all, depending on who in the office you ask!) of what we advocate is responsible government oversight. Currently the FDA doesn’t have the authority to set standards for personal care products, and we at EWG would like nothing more than to see that change. That’s the biggest dream of most non-profits, isn’t it? To put ourselves out of work.
Marguerite, thanks for getting this conversation going!
To Amanda’s point, what is a consumer to do, in the absence of reliable FDA qualifications for all these products? Especially, somebody like me with only so much time to research these things.
AND to further consider who is actually doing the lobbying and if so are they indeed in the right places. I am for advocacy – education totally rules / yet who are the credible voices? I am very great friends with our corporate attorney who has a huge involvement in this platform – i am non political – give me 14 years in a corrupt school district I saw stars and saw enough – however bi-annually reporting yields some pretty interesting molassis like head banging against a brick wall stuff – i am speaking vaguely – for that I apologize – i just feel in such good hands. Our influence and track record is superb – when the industry gets standardized and if – we will lead the way
What is a consumer to do? Choose a company carefully. Be friend and then be loyal –
the more organic locally grown food purchased – the better for the local farmer
whole foods growing statistics yearly in organics alone is astounding
fuel the market you want to foster and be part of the bigger picture
i got a tad enthusiastic
Mother Earth aka Karen Hanrahan
http://www.bestwellnessconsultant.com
Yes the beauty industry has been deceiving us for years! Also check out my book on the topic, just published: “Not Just a Pretty Face: The Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry.” It chronicles the work of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and our five-year effort to pressure the beauty industry to use safer ingredients. Thanks for writing about this important topic — Stacy Malkan
Stacy,
Thanks for all the work you are doing, and for jumping into this discussion. And good luck with the book. I will make sure to check it out.
I am using EWG’s Skin Deep Database as a starting point to determine what cosmetics I want to continue using. Interesting how we, the public, assume that the FDA is protecting us from harmful ingredients in cosmetics. According to the FDA website “Cosmetic products and ingredients are not subject to FDA premarket approval authority, with the exception of color additives.” The cosmetic manufacturers “regulate” themselves and deny there is any possible cumulative effect to the chemicals they add to cosmetics. I believe that we, as consumers, need to educate ourselves and make our purchases accordingly. And like you, Marguerite, I’m not giving up my hair dye easily. Keep up the good work!
Daryl
http://verdavivo.wordpress.com/
Did you see the documentary ‘Toxic Bust’?
[…] 14, 2007 by lamarguerite Day 16 of Daily Footprint Project. Major overhaul of my bathroom closet. I spent a few more hours going through the Skin Deep database, and perusing Whole Foods Health and […]
Perfect post!! I’ve been evaluating ingredients in cosmetic/body care products that are linked to known and suspected toxicities too. For example, the EWG/Skin Deep site has several links devoted to baby products — shampoos, wipes, lotions, etc. Apart from the fact that many familiar manufacturers produce and market moderate to high concern products, depending on their formulations, there are huge data gaps. The Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act charges the industry with regulating itself; manufacturers must “adequately substantiate” ingredients for safety before marketing them. The industry funds an organization called the Cosmetics Industry Review purportedly for that purpose, but the CIR’s published list identifies just about 10% of the population of ingredients used in cosmetic/body care products. I’ve begun a custom search engine to help me cull useful information; if you’re interested, here’s the link:
http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=003963123612850644658%3Avr-lnsicjyc
Looks like a great initiative!
when using hair dryers, it would be better to use those low wattage types because they are not very damaging to the hair ‘-“
Thanks very much for your great post. I have been searching for such information for a really long time. Not everything is fully easy to understand to me, but it is definitely interesting and worth reading.
Since I finished that book I’ve started 4 businesses.
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